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Emergency Garage Door Fix Needed!

C

Carbo

Diamond Member
So I go to exit my house just now, hit the garage door opener on the wall, and what sounds like glass shattering booms through my ears. Turns out one of the springs on the garage door broke apart. Loud and scary as all get up.
Turns out I have had a new garage door and operator on order for about five weeks now. However, the door was working so I didn't mind the wait. Now, though, I need to get the damn door open so I can back my car out and get on with my life. Problem is, without the springs that door isn't moving. Not a damn inch. Any suggestions? Any volunteers to come over and lift the damn thing? It weighs about 300 pounds, I'm told.
 
Start the car, rev up the engine and drop it into gear. Should leave a hole big enought to drive through.
 
even if its an old wooden door you should be able to lift it up, its on tracks just try it really hard.
 
Maybe you can disconnect the drive from the door, and then lift it? When garage doors are closed, the springs should be fully extended, which facilitates opening it. If you still have one spring left, it shouldn't require lifting the weight of the door to open it. Can you talk a neighbor / domestic cohabitant into helping out?
 
there's usually a red cord hanging down- that disconnects the caddy from the drive linkage.

Remember- people were able to use garage doors before they were electric
 
Originally posted by: acemcmac
there's usually a red cord hanging down- that disconnects the caddy from the drive linkage.

Remember- people were able to use garage doors before they were electric
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They still had springs :roll:

 
You need to release the door from the drive chain. Look for a rope that hangs down from the track and pull on it.

😉 That is ALL

Oh and replace the spring but be careful.........
 
Originally posted by: Carbo
So I go to exit my house just now, hit the garage door opener on the wall, and what sounds like glass shattering booms through my ears. Turns out one of the springs on the garage door broke apart. Loud and scary as all get up.
Turns out I have had a new garage door and operator on order for about five weeks now. However, the door was working so I didn't mind the wait. Now, though, I need to get the damn door open so I can back my car out and get on with my life. Problem is, without the springs that door isn't moving. Not a damn inch. Any suggestions? Any volunteers to come over and lift the damn thing? It weighs about 300 pounds, I'm told.
Click to expand...

Call a professional. I wouldn't mess with it.
 
Ouch, good luck. You're going to need a couple of people to try and lift the thing because it may weight even more than 300 pounds. I know the garage door at my parent's place (2 car garage) weighs somewhere around 700 or more pounds and it'd be a pain in the arse to try and lift that thing without springs.
 
But do you have a side door to get into the garage to use the release cord?

Anyhow, when I had that same problem with the spring snapping, the initial lift was very difficult. Once it was over a foot off the ground, it was much easier. If I a 140 pound person could lift a double garage door, most others should be able to do this also.
 
Originally posted by: eelw
But do you have a side door to get into the garage to use the release cord?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is going to be a real problem, what with the OP sitting in his car in the garage wanting to get out. How on earth will he get into the garage to pull the release? 😉
 
Unless your garage door opener is undersized, it should still be able to lift your door with your remaining spring if you give it some help for the first two or three feet.

As an emergency fix, you or your garage door repairman can clamp the two broken spring pieces together using a cable clamp and re-tension the spring (look at your remaining good spring to determine the number of turns). It'll work until your new hardware arrives. If you elect to do this yourself, do be careful. Garage door springs demand respect.
 
300lbs? What is it made out of, lead? Ah, impenetrable to the sneaking eyes of Superman! May I call you Lex?

In all seriousness that's a heavy door. We lost one springs on our door but still had another and I could open it with a good heave. I had to squat down and grab the bottom handle while holding the release. But I think I weighed more than that flimsy door. You may wanna try getting a hand if serious lifting hasn't been tried yet.
 
Lot of quick replies. Thanks.
First, as far as an emergency repair, I'm in south Florida and we are still recovering from this past season's hurricane damages. So finding anyone to do the needed service is difficult. And if you can, the cost is high. One company quoted me $150 to come out tomorrow. But I need out today. My kid has her drivers license road test scheduled in 90 minutes, and she's waiting for me to pick her up with the car. . .hehe, poor kid. But I digress. . .
Get some neighbors/friends to help.
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One neighbor is 78. The others are two out of shape fifty somethings. Another always has a bottle of beer in his hand and I don't see his truck. But if he is home we can offer beers to the two other fat neighbors with the beer guts and maybe we can accomplish something.
Start the car, rev up the engine and drop it into gear. Should leave a hole big enought to drive through.
Click to expand...
That's number four on my list.
even if its an old wooden door you should be able to lift it up, its on tracks just try it really hard.
Click to expand...
:roll:
Maybe you can disconnect the drive from the door, and then lift it? When garage doors are closed, the springs should be fully extended, which facilitates opening it. If you still have one spring left, it shouldn't require lifting the weight of the door to open it.
Click to expand...
Already disconnected the door from the track, via the red pull chain. Hasn't made a difference in my ability to move the monstrosity.
I'm just waiting for this to happen with ours.
Garage door repair people seem to make their money off the fact that they can charge $150 to fix a $20 spring because it's an emergency.
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That's exactly what I was quoted to have the springs replaced. . .tomorrow. That's on top of the $1,800 I'm paying for an entire new door, operator, and all associated hardware sheduled for next Friday. I'll pass for now.
Ouch, good luck. You're going to need a couple of people to try and lift the thing because it may weight even more than 300 pounds. I know the garage door at my parent's place (2 car garage) weighs somewhere around 700 or more pounds and it'd be a pain in the arse to try and lift that thing without springs.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't suprise me if I've underestimated the weight. Sure feels like a ton trying to move it even the slightest bit.
 
If it's a big door, it could indeed weigh 300 pounds. I couldn't life my door by myself when the spring broke. You'll need a few people to help you life it and the you'll need to lower it down for repairs.

Good Luck.

 
He has two springs on the door. ONE of the broke. He can pull the release rope and lift it up himself. It won't be that hard.

 
Hmmm, it's a one car wide door? It should be easy to lift even if a spring broke. Is it wood or aluminum? Does it just have springs or are there pulleys/cables also? Inspect it closely to see if the cables came off the pulleys and jammed somewhere.

$150 isn't bad to have someone fix that spring. If the company is reputable they'll get the proper gauge spring and set it at the proper tension, etc... I know from experience - I had one company fix a spring and it snapped 2 more times within a year or so, the same guy fixed it for free again both times. It snapped again so I asked around and found a more reputable place - they said the original guy had it all screwed up, wrong spring, tension. etc... No problems with that door in years since they fixed it.
 
It's a two car garage door, wood. The cables appear to be fine. And unless you have superhuman strength, that door is not going to be lifted solo. I'm going to wait for a neighbor or two to get home and then we'll lift it so I can back my car out.
 
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